DIVINE  BENEVOLENCE 

TO 

THE  POOR: 


DISCOURSE 


Deiivebed  before  the  Honourable  TH£  Mayop  and  COMOBATlttS 
or  the  Citt  of  New-York,  Apbie  29,  181G; 

ON  OPENING  THE  CHAPEL 


NEW  ALMS-HOUSE,  BELLEVUE. 


BY  JOHN  STANFORD,  M.  A. 


TheliVralhandof  Providence  expand* 
The  lib'ral  Christian's  heart:  much  he  receive^ 
And  much  he  scatters,  dealing  all  around 
"With  cheerfulness,  what  Gud  bestows  on  him. 
Fear  not,  ye  rich,  to  turn  your  gold  to  seed, 
And  sow  it  in  the  fields  of  poverty; 
A  glorious  crop  beyond  your  hopes  shall  rise, 
And  thus  reward  your  Inndnea  j  ve  shall  reap 
Of  present  benefit  an  hundred  fold. 
And  future  sheaves  of  everlasting  good. 

MM 


NEW-YORK: 
PRINTED  BY  T.  AND  J.  SWORDS, 

No.  160  Pearl-Street. 
1816. 


£>  6  io 


Avkry  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gu  t  of  Seymour  B.  Dursi  Old  York  Lihrary 


In  Common  Council,  April  29,  181'6. 

RESOLVED,  that  the  thanks  of  this  Common 
Council  be  presented  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stanford  for 
his  able  and  eloquent  Sermon  delivered  before  them 
this  day,  on  the  occasion  of  the  consecration  of  the 
Chapel  in  the  new  Aims-House ;  and  that  he  be  re- 
quested to  furnish  a  copy  thereof  for  publication. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes. 

J.  MORTON,  Clerk 


To  the  Honourable  the  Mayor  and  Common 
Council  of  the  City  of  New- York, 

Gentlemen, 

Agreeably  to  your  resolve  of  April  the  29th, 
requesting  a  copy  of  the  Discourse  which  I  delivered  before 
you  on  the  opening  of  the  Chapel  in  the  JVeiv  Alms-Hotise, 
in  order  to  its  publication,  I  now  present  it  to  your  hand. 
Since  the  delivery  of  this  Sermon,  I  have  met  with  a  few 
communications  in  relation  to  the  history  of  our  poor, 
which  I  have  thought  proper  to  incorporate  with  the  ori- 
ginal narrative.— *I  contemplated  the  introduction  of  an 
Appendix,  which  should  contain  the  rise,  progress,  and 
present  state  of  the  other  public  Institutions  in  this  City ; 
hut,  in  pursuing  the  subject  I  find  that  it  would  require 
a  greater  portion  of  time  than  my  present  stated  duties 
will  permit.  On  the  suggestion,  therefore,  of  some  of  my 
learned  friends,  I  no  longer  detain  this  Discourse  from 
the  press;  but,  by  the  blessing  of  Providence,  shall  em- 
ploy my  future  leisure  in  continuing  the  compilation  of 
the  history  of  the  other  public  Institutions ;  which,  should 
they  promise  utility,  may  hereafter,  through  your  patron- 
age, be  presented  to  the  public  attention. 

Iam,  Gentlemen, 

With  sentiments  of  esteem, 

Your  servant  in  the  Gospel, 

JOHN  STANFORD, 

lAspenard-strcet, 
ting.  16th,  1816. 


A  DISCOURSE,  &c, 


PSALM  IX.  18. 

The  needy  shall  not  alway  be  forgotten :  the  expec- 
tation of  the  poor  shall  not  perish  for  ever. 

In  consequence  of  transgression  against  the 
Almighty,  miseries  of  every  conceivable  descrip- 
tion are  entailed  upon  all  mankind ;  and  thus  it  is 
that  man  is  born  to  trouble  as  the  sparks  fly  upward. 
Had  it  not  been  for  the  intervention  of  Jesus,  the 
Son  of  God,  who  satisfied  divine  justice,  our  mi- 
series in  this  life  would  have  introduced  us  to  the 
black  regions  of  endless  despair!  Through  the 
sufferings  and  death  of  this  adorable  Saviour, 
hope  springs  to  a  guilty  world,  and  Providence 
bears  a  smiling  aspect  over  the  varieties  of  human 
sorrows. 

The  text  which  I  have  selected  is  an  epitome 
of  the  promises;  and  is  admirably  calculated  to 
afford  encouragement  both  to  the  sensible  sinner 


8 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Pod/. 


and  the  agonizing  sufferer.  The  poor,  needy,  sen- 
sible sinner,  who,  with  a  penitential  eye  looks  to 
the  throne  of  his  offended  God  for  pardon,  and 
who,  at  the  same  time,  is  disposed  to  draw  an 
unfavourable  conclusion  from  the  magnitude  of 
his  guilt,  that  mercy  will  never  create  peace  in 
his  throbbing  breast — is  here  encouraged  to  wait 
with  an  assurance  that  his  depressed  soul  shall  not 
always  be  forgotten,  neither  shall  his  expectation 
of  peace  and  joy  perish  for  ever.  It  equally  ad- 
ministers a  cheering  hope  to  the  poor  and  the 
needy  under  their  most  severe  misfortunes  and 
accumulated  miseries.  Though  lover  and  friend 
be  put  far  from  them,  and  their  acquaintance  into 
darkness,  God  assures  them,  by  this  promise,  that 
they  shall  not  always  be  forgotten;  though  long 
and  severe  their  calamities,  their  expectation 
shall  not  finally  become  abortive.  In  this  pro- 
mise there  is  more  implied  than  expressed. 
While  it  assures  the  penitent,  and  the  sufferer,  of 
the  gracious  attention  of  their  Lord,  they  may 
confidently  expect  that  every  necessary  blessing 
shall  be  conferred  upon  them  by  his  beneficent 
hand. 

It  will  be  most  appropriate  to  the  present  occa- 
sion that  I  elucidate  the  text  as  an  expression  of 
Divine  Benevolence  to  the  necessitous  poor.  In 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor. 


9 


order  to  this,  I  shall  inquire — What  are  those 
ways  which  God,  in  his  Word,  and  by  his 
Providence,  accomplishes  this  promise  in  fa- 
vour OF  THE  POOR  AND  NEEDY,  IN  THE  DIFFER- 
ENT PERIODS  OF  TIME? 

Recur  to  the  ancient  laws  of  Moses,  and  you 
will  instantly  perceive  the  provision  which  God 
required  in  favour  of  the  poor  in  the  land.  One 
section  you  will  find  in  Leviticus  xix.  9,  10. 
And  when  ye  reap  the  harvest  of  your  land,  thou 
shalt  not  wholly  reap  the  corners  of  thy  field,  neither 
shalt  thou  gather  the  gleanings  of  thy  harvest.  And 
thou  shalt  not  glean  thy  vineyard  ;  neither  shalt  thou 
gather  every  grape  of  thy  vineyard ;  thou  shalt  leave 
them  for  the  poor  and  the  stranger :  I  am  the  Lord 
your  God.  As  if  Moses  had  said :  "  This  is  enough ; 
the  God  of  heaven  and  earth  is  the  Lord  your 
God ;  he  crowns  your  fields  with  his  bounties, 
therefore  exercise  benevolence  and  compassion  to 
the  poor  and  the  stranger  which  are  within  thy 
borders."  This  benevolent  law  was  afterwards 
revised,  and  became  a  Statute  in  Israel.  When 
thou  cuttest  down  thine  harvest  in  thy  field,  and  hast 
forgot  a  sheaf  in  the  field,  thou  shalt  not  go  again 
to  fetch  it:  it  shall  be  for  the  stranger,  for  the  father- 
less, and  for  the  widow;  that  the  Lord  thy  God  may 
bless  thee  in  all  the  works  of  thine  hands.  When 

% 


10         Divine  Benevolence  to  ike  Poor. 

thou  beatest  thine  olive  tree,  thou  shalt  not  go  over 
the  boughs  again :  it  shall  be  for  the  stranger,  for 
the  fatherless,  and  for  the  widow.  When  thou  ga- 
therest  the  grapes  of  thy  vineyard,  thou  shall  not 
glean  it  afterwards  :  it  shall  be  for  the  stranger,  for 
the  fatherless,  and  for  the  widow.  (Deut.  xxiv.  19, 
20,  21.)  From  this  humane  law,  it  is  apparent,  it 
was  the  divine  intention,  that  while  some  enjoyed 
the  comforts  and  the  luxuries  of  life,  they  should 
evidence  their  dependence  and  their  gratitude  to 
God  by  relieving  the  poor  and  the  indigent. 

Whenever  this  benevolent  requisition  was  either 
neglected  or  violated  by  the  Hebrews,  God  failed 
not  to  give  them  the  necessary  reprehension.  In 
the  days  of  Isaiah,  when  that  people  held  their 
fast,  he  thus  reproved  them  by  his  prophet :  Be- 
hold, ye  fast  for  strife  and  debate,  and  to  smite  with 
the  fist  of  wickedness:  ye  shall  not  fast  as  ye  do 
this  day,  to  make  your  voice  to  be  heard  on  high. 
Is  it  such  a  fast  that  I  have  chosen  ?  a  day  for  a 
man  to  afflict  his  soul  ?  Is  it  to  bmv  down  his  head 
as  a  bulrush ;  and  to  spread  sackcloth  and  ashes  un- 
der him  ?  Wilt  thou  call  this  a  fast,  and  an  accept- 
able day  of  the  Lord  ?  All  these  external  mortify- 
ing services  were  without  avail.  The  Prophet 
therefore  informed  them,  what  were  the  necessary 
accompaniments  to  fasting.    Is  not  this  the  fast 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor.  11 


that  I  have  chosen  ?  to  loose  the  bands  of  wickedness, 
to  undo  the  heavy  burdens,  and  to  let  the  oppressed 
go  free,  and  that  ye  break  every  yoke  ?    Is  it  not  to 
deal  thy  bread  to  the  hungry,  and  that  thou  bring 
the  poor  that  are  cast  out  to  thy  house  ?    Wlien  thou 
seest  the  naked,  that  thou  cover  him;  and  that  thou 
hide  not  thyself  from  thine  own  flesh.    Though  this 
necessary  reprehension  was  given  against  a  wicked, 
sordid,  and  uncharitable  temper  and  conduct  in 
the  Jews;   God,  nevertheless,  encouraged  their 
hope  on  their  reformation.    If,  saith  the  Lord, 
thou  draio  out  thy  soul  to  the  hungry,  and  satisfy 
the  afflicted  soul;  then  shall  thy  light  rise  in  obscu- 
rity, and  thy  darkness  be  as  the  noon-day*  Thus, 
we  may  conclude,  that  this  salutary  provision,  in 
favour  of  the  poor  and  needy,  was  founded  upon 
the  original  law  of  nature;   Thou  shalt  love  thy 
neighbour  as  thyself.    And,  it  is  equally  obvious, 
that  our  attachments  to  the  public  worship  of  God, 
without  expressions  of  benevolence  to  the  dis- 
tressed, are  totally  unavailable. 

The  influence  of  this  ancient  benevolent  statute 
upon  the  heart  and  conduct  of  individuals,  is 
worthy  our  attention.  Job — He  was  a  man  of 
opulence,  feared  his  God  above  many,  and 


•  Isaiah  58th  chapter. 


12         Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poo>. 

stretched  forth  his  friendly  hand  to  relieve  the  ne- 
cessitous. In  his  history  we  are  informed  that  he 
delivered  the  poor  that  cried,  the  fatherless,  and 
him  that  had  no  helper.  Therefore  the  blessing 
of  him  that  was  ready  to  perish  came  upon  him, 
and  he  made  the  widow's  heart  to  sing  for  joy. 
(Chap.  29.)  David — This  eminent  character  was 
not  only  a  man  after  God's  own  heart  to  accom- 
plish his  purposes  in  the  kingdom  of  Israel :  but 
he  expressed  the  most  tender  compassion  to  the 
poor  and  the  miserable.  For  this  reason,  we  read 
in  so  many  of  his  psalms,  that  he  characterizes 
the  various  classes  of  the  sick,  the  needy,  the 
unfortunate;  celebrates  the  providence  of  God. 
who  has  laid  up  the  greatness  of  hi3  goodness  for 
their  relief;  and  pronounces  a  benediction  upon 
him  that  considereth  the  poor. 

Closing  the  Old  Testament,  we  will  open  the 
New,  to  obtain  further  proof  of  the  goodness  of 
God  in  fulfilling  the  promise  in  our  text. 

Here  we  behold  Jesus,  the  Son  of  God,  who 
came  from  the  bosom  of  his  Father,  not  only  to 
redeem  sinners  by  the  atoning  blood  of  his  cross, 
and  to  open  a  way  of  access  to  the  throne  of  offended 
Majesty  for  penitent  transgressors;  but  to  express, 
in  every  possible  degree,  the  purest  charms  of 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor.  13 


benevolence  to  his  friends  and  to  his  enemies. 
The  coming  of  Jesus  Christ  in  the  flesh  was,  in- 
deed, the  confirmation  of  the  truth  of  our  text. 
No !  the  poor  sinner,  and  the  needy  sufferer,  can- 
not be  forgotten,  since  God  so  loved  the  world  as 
to  give  his  vonly  begotten  Son ;  and  who,  with 
him,  will  also  freely  give  us  all  things.  One  import- 
ant design  of  Christ  in  coming  into  the  world 
was,  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  instruction  and 
salvation  to  the  poor ;  and  for  the  advantage  of 
which  multitudes  attended  his  private  and  public 
ministry.  In  the  discourses  of  Jesus,  he  never 
failed  to  explain  and  enforce  the  great  duty  of 
charity;  and  this  is  most  charmingly  inculcated 
in  his  sermon  on  the  mount,  and  enforced  by  his 
interesting^  parable  of  the  good  Samaritan.  He, 
himself,  went  about  all  the  cities  and  villages, 
healing  every  sickness,  and  every  disease  among 
the  people,  of  every  age  and  class.  And,  how 
often  did  he  perform  miracles,  not  from  ostenta- 
tion, but  to  evince  the  truth  of  his  character,  and 
the  kindness  of  his  heart  in  feeding  the  hungry 
and  relieving  the  distressed.  To  his  more  imme- 
diate disciples  Jesus  gave  the  most  pointed  charge 
to  cultivate  the  same  humane  disposition.  Ye 
have  the  poor  with  you  always,  and  whensoever  ye 
will,  ye  may  do  them  good.  (Mark  xiv.  7.)  Nay 
more,  in  the  twenty-fifth  chapter  of  Matthew, 


14  Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor. 


which  you  heard  read  before  sermon,  Jesus,  de- 
scribing the  grandeur  of  the  general  judgment, 
when  the  Son  of  man  shall  appear  upon  the 
throne  of  his  glory  with  his  holy  angels,  he  will 
then  acknowledge  those  who  have  fed  the  hungry, 
refreshed  the  thirsty,  fo3tered  the  stranger,  clothed 
the  naked,  and  visited  the  sick  and  the  prisoner, 
as  acts  of  kindness  conferred  upon  himself.  We 
must,  therefore,  confess,  that  the  benevolence  of 
Jesus  was  of  the  most  pure  and  active  kind,  and 
demands  our  admiration  and  our  gratitude;  for, 
though  he  was  rich,  yet  for  our  sakes  he  became  poor, 
that  we,  through  his  poverty,  might  be  rich. 

Let  U3  now  see  how  far  the  Apostles  and  fol- 
lowers of  Jesus  caught  this  heavenly  flame  of  be- 
nevolence from  their  Lord  and  Master.  In  their 
writings  they  have  strongly  marked  the  nature  and 
fruit  of  grace,  by  acts  of  charity  and  kindness. 
James  assures  us,  that  pure  religion,  and  undefiled, 
before  God  and  the  Father,  is  this,  to  visit  the  father- 
less and  widows  in  their  affliction,  and  to  keep  our- 
selves unspotted  from  the  world.  Whatever  preten- 
sions any  may  have  to  an  interest  in  God,  as  their 
Father  in  Christ,  John  assures  them  that,  WIloso 
hath  this  world's  good,  and  seeth  that  his  brother  hath 
need,  and  shutteth  up  his  bowels  of  compassion 
against  him,  hoio  dwelleth  the  love  of  God  in  him? 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor.  16 


— Indeed,  it  is  impossible  that  such  a  claim  could 
be  just.  The  practice  of  the  disciples  perfectly  , 
corresponded  with  their  benevolent  principles.  In 
the  first  primitive  age,  when  persecution  and  af- 
fliction abounded,  all  that  believed  sold  their  pos- 
sesses and  goods,  and  parted  them  to  all  men,  as 
every  man  had  need.  And  it  was  then  the  constant 
practice  of  the  Christian  Church,  that,  on  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  every  one  was  required  to  lay 
by  him,  in  store,  as  God  had  prospered  him,  in  fa- 
vour of  the  poor.  When  others  wished  to  remem- 
ber the  poor,  the  benevolent  heart  of  Paul  dic- 
tated him  to  say,  The  same  ichich  I  also  was  for- 
ward to  do. — These  few  instances  are  sufficient  to 
convince  you  how  far  the  disciples  of  Jesus  trod 
in  the  benevolent  steps  of  their  Master.  Every 
Epistle  breathes  tenderness  and  compassion  to 
afflicted  humanity,  while  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles 
realizes  the  practice  of  these  amiable  virtues. 

We  will  now  make  an  inquiry  into  the  history 
of  Providence,  since  the  close  of  the  Scriptures, 
further  to  evince  the  fulfilment  of  our  cheering 
promise  in  favour  of  the  poor.  The  position  I 
shall  take  is  this : — 

In  proportion  to  the  civilization  op  coun- 
tries,  ESPECIALLY    "WHERE    THE   RAYS    ©F  THF. 


16  Divine  Benevolence  to  Hie  Poor. 


Gospel  of  Christ  have  shone,  there  havl 
been  the  greatest  exertions  in  favour  of 
the  poor  and  the  needy. 

Until  the  year  1553,  there  appears  to  have  been 
no  provision  made  in  England  in  favour  of  the 
poor  and  miserable.  At  this  period  a  benevolent 
reformation  commenced.  From  an  ancient  docu- 
ment in  my  hand,  the  case  was  this — Bishop  Rid- 
ley, preaching  before  King  Edward  VI.  on  the 
subject  of  charity,  he  deplored  the  wretched  state 
of  the  numerous  poor  and  miserable  in  the  land, 
particularly  those  in  London;  recommending  their 
case  to  the  rich  for  commiseration  and  relief. 
The  King  immediately  entered  into  the  subject; 
and,  by  the  Bishop's  own  hand,  sent  a  letter  to 
Sir  Robert' Dobbs,  then  Lord  Mayor  of  London. 
By  the  aid  of  proper  officers,  the  poor  and  the 
wretched  were  sought  after  in  the  various  parts  of 
the  city,  and  formed  into  the  following  classes, 
with  their  several  divisions;  and  which,  for  the 
sake  of  antiquity,  I  shall  give  you  verbatim. 

"  They  consisted  of  nine  special  kinds  of  poore 
people,  and  those  same  brought  into  these  three 
degrees  : — The  poore  by  impotencie — poore  by 
casualtie — thriftlesse  poore.  First.  The  poore 
by  impotencie  are  also  divided  into  three  kinds; 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor. 


17 


that  is  to  saie,  1.  The  fatherless  poore  man's  child ; 
2.  The  aged,  blind,  and  lame.  3.  The  diseased 
persons  by  leprosie,  dropsie,  &c.  &c.  Second. 
The  poore  by  casualtie  are  of  three  kinds,  that  is 
to  saie,  4.  The  wounded  soldier ;  5.  The  decaied 
householder:  6.  The  visited  with  grievous  disease. 
Third.  The  thriftlesse  poore  are  of  three  kinds  in 
likewise,  that  is  to  saie,  7.  The  rioter,  that  con- 
sumeth  all;  8.  The  vagabond,  that  will  abide  in 
no  place;  9.  The  idle  person,  as  the  strumpet  and 
others.  For  these  sorts  of  poore,  three  several 
houses  were  provided ;  for  the  support  of  which, 
a  grant  was  made  to  hold  lands  at  a  certain  yearly 
value ;  and  King  Edward  himself  subscribed  four 
thousand  marks  by  yeare,  and  then  said,  in  the 
hearing  of  his  councell,  Lord  God,  I  yeeld  thee 
most  heartie  thanks,  that  thou  hast  given  mee  life 
thus  long  to  finish  this  work  to  the  glorie  of  thy 
name!"*  The  historian  further  adds,  that  in  two 
days  afterwards  the  King  died.  This,  to  us,  should 
enforce  the  Scripture  admonition,  Whatsoever  thy 
hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  all  thy  might :  for 
there  is  no  work,  nor  device,  nor  knowledge,  nor 
wisdom  in  the  grave  whither  thou  goest. 

It  is  possible  that  this  arrangement  in  favour 

•  Hollinshed's  Chronicle,  reign  of  Edward  VI.  Reprinted  in  the 
Christian  Observer,  Vol.  ii.  No.  6,  p.  349. 

3 


f  8  Divine  Benevolence  to  Ike  lJovr. 

of  the  poor  and  the  miserable  in  London,  had  i 
salutary  influence  upon  the  whole  kingdom,  and 
upon  the  neighbouring  nations.  However,  in  the 
year  1773,  it  pleased  God,  by  his  grace  and  pro- 
vidence, to  raise  up  that  good  and  great  man 
John  Howard,  Esq.  high  sheriff  of  the  county  of 
Bedford;  by  whose  philanthropic  labours  a  more 
benign  aspect  was  cast  upon  the  needy,  the  poorr 
and  the  criminal.  By  virtue  of  his  office,  he  vi- 
sited all  the  prisons  within  his  jurisdiction ;  found 
them'in  a  most  deplorable  condition;  and,  by  his 
benevolent  efforts,  materially  ameliorated  the  mi- 
series of  the  sufferers.  After  this,  he  visited  ail 
the  gaols  and  receptacles  of  human  misery  in 
England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland ;  producing  that 
reformation  which  justly  entitled  him  to  the  thanks 
of  the  British  Parliament.  Stimulated  by  the 
love  of  his  Saviour,  and  possessed  of  compassion 
to  fallen  humanity,  he  procured  special  permission 
from  his  government  to  leave  his  native  soil, 
and  make  several  tours  through  France,  Germany, 
Holland,  and  other  nations,  to  explore  the  state  If 
prisons,  penitentiaries,  hospitals,  and  schools,  for 
the  benevolent  purposes  of  redressing  the  miseries 
of  his  fellow  creatures,  and  promoting  the  public 
benefit.  At  last,  by  pestilential  disease,  he  died 
a  martyr  in  the  cause  of  humanity.  What  success 
attended  those  benevolent  exertions  of  Howard. 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor.  1$ 


are  sufficiently  known  by  those  who  have  read 
his  History  of  Prisons ;  a  work  which  will  em- 
balm his  memory  to  the  latest  ages  of  posterity. 
Why  did  Howard  leave  his  native  land,  when  af- 
fluence surrounded  him,  to  explore  foreign  climes, 
on  a  mission  so  grating  to  human  feelings,  and 
so  extremely  hazardous  to  his  personal  safety? 
Was  it  for  the  love  of  gain ;  to  collect  the  pro- 
ductions of  nature  and  of  art;  to  ingratiate  him- 
self into  the  favour  of  his  own,  or  of  foreign 
princes  ?  No.  It  was  to  ransack  the  hords  of 
human  wretchedness;  penetrate  the  dark  and 
dreary  dungeon  ;  to  wipe  away  the  sufferer's  tears; 
and  to  convince  posterity,  that  mercy  should 
always  season  human  justice.  Permit  me  to  say, 
that  upon  this  occasion,  I  should  have  deemed 
myself  inexcusable,  had  I  not  paid  this  small 
tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  so  distin- 
guished a  philanthropist  as  Howard.* 

*  From  Dr.  Aiken,  and  others,  it  appears  that  John  Howard  was 
born  in  the  year  1726,  at  Enfield,  in  England.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  congregation  in  Little  Wild-street,  London,  then  under  the 
care  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Stennet,  D.  D.  He  travelled  three  times 
through  France;  four  Germany;  five  Holland;  twice  Italy;  twice 
Russia;  once  Spain  and  Portugal;  and  once  the  northern  States  and 
Turkey.  He  died  of  a  pestilential  fever  at  Churson,  Jan.  20th,  1790, 
in  the  sixty -fourth  year  of  his  age.  In  the  Introduction  which  How- 
ard wrote  to  his  valuable  History  of  Prisons,  he  says,  "  These  journies 
were  not  undertaken  for  the  traveller's  amusement ;  and  the  collections 
are  not  published  for  general  entertainment ;  but  for  the  perusal  of 
those  who  have  it  in  their  power  to  give  redress  to  the  sufferers." — 
Wno  tnxi  oo,  awd  bo  likewise? 


20  Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor. 


Little  did  Columbus  know  the  designs  of  God 
in  his  Providence,  by  sending  him  to  discover 
America.  We  now  know,  that  it  was,  eventually, 
to  establish  a  government  congenial  with  the  spi- 
ritual kingdom  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ;  and  which 
is  declared  to  be,  not  of  this  world.  For  here,  in 
America,  the  rights  of  conscience  are  sacred;  and 
every  peaceable  citizen  can  worship  his  Lord  in 
that  way  which  he  believes  is  most  agreeable  to 
his  revealed,  holy  word. 

In  proportion  to  the  light  of  the  Gospel  shining 
upon  our  land,  the  history  of  the  poor  becomes 
increasingly  interesting.  Searching  the  public 
records  of  this  city,  under  the  old  administration, 
the  population  of  its  inhabitants,  in  1699,  amounted 
to  6000  souls.  The  poor,  at  this  early  period,  re- 
ceived partial  relief  in  their  own  habitations,  or 
lodgings  were  provided  for  them  by  the  Vestry. 
Johannes  De  Peyster,  Esq.  was  then  Mayor.  In 
1707,  greater  attention  was  paid  to  the  indigent, 
both  by  food  and  clothing;  every  person  so  re- 
lieved had  a  badge  upon  the  sleeve  of  the  gar- 
ment, formed  of  the  letters  N.  Y.  in  blue  or  red 
cloth.  As  population  increased,  certain  persons 
of  humanity  and  opulence,  in  1714,  presented  a 
well  written  petition  to  Robert  Lurting,  Esq.  the 
Mayor,  and  to  the  Corporation,  on  the  utility  of 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor.  21 


erecting  a  good  and  substantial  building  for  the 
reception  of  various  classes  of  poor,  and  as  an 
house  of  correction.  Whereupon  Messrs.  Roome, 
Bayard,  Fell,  and  Burger,  who  were  Aldermen, 
with  three  other  gentlemen,  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  fix  upon  a  suitable  piece  of  ground, 
and  to  purchase  materials  for  the  purpose.  They, 
eventually,  chose  a  spot,  then  called  the  Vineyard; 
the  very  place  on  which  now  stands  our  City- Hall. 
The  house  erected  was  65  feet  by  24,  two  stories 
high,  with  good  cellar  apartments.  The  front 
room  to  the  right,  was  appropriated  to  the  use  of 
the  Superintendant ;  the  first  of  whom  was  John 
Seabring,  having  a  wife  and  one  child.  The 
upper  room,  on  the  west  side,  was  used  as  an  In- 
firmary; the  first  physician  of  which  was  Dr.  John 
Van  Buren,  grandfather  of  the  present  Dr.  Van 
Buren  of  this  city ;  who  held  his  office  thirty 
years.  His  salary  was  one  hundred  pounds  a 
year;  out  of  which  he  found  his  own  medicines. 
Trustees,  by  an  annual  election,  were  appointed  to 
the  Institution,  who  regularly  met  once  a  week. 
The  description  of  persons  received  to  this  house 
were — the  Indigent  Poor,  the  Sick,  the  Orphan,  the 
Maniac,  and  the  Refractory.  This  house  of  poor 
was  supported  out  of  what  was  then  called  the 
Minister's  Fund,  a  small  tax  upon  the  inhabitants, 
and  by  voluntary  contributions,  which  sometimes 


21 


Divine  Benevohnce  to  the  Poor. 


were  very  liberal.  Besides,  the  clergy  of  this  city 
benevolently  took  their  turn,  weekly,  in  preaching 
the  Gospel  to  the  poor. 

When  the  war  commenced  between  England 
and  America,  in  the  year  1776,  it  became  neces- 
sary to  remove  the  poor,  first  to  West- Chester, 
and  afterwards  to  Poughkeepsie,  under  the  charge 
of  Mr.  John  Forbes.  During  the  war,  however, 
the  poor  and  the  refractory  were  received  into 
the  Aims-House,  then  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Littlewood;  who  was  permitted  to  draw 
King's  rations  for  nine  months,  to  support  the 
poor.  After  this  the  Corporation  appointed  Sa- 
muel Bell,  Esq.  grandfather  to  the  present  deputy 
sheriff,  Mr.  James  Bell,  to  the  office  of  Superinten- 
dant  of  the  establishment. — In  consequence  of  the 
destructive  fire  which  took  place  in  this  city  on  the 
21st  September,  1776,  300  destitute  persons  were 
received  into  this  Institution. 

On  the  establishment  of  the  Independence  of 
America,  Christian  benevolence  to  the  poor  as- 
sumed still  more  cheering  features.  The  poor 
who  were  fostered  in  Poughkeepsie,  returned  to 
the  city  under  the  superintendance  of  Mr.  Sa- 
muel Dodge.  Several  out  buildings  were  soon 
erected  on  the  premises,  to  make  the  Aims-House 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor.  23 


more  commodious. — The  old  school-house  still 
remains. 

The  increase  of  population,  and  the  great  influx 
of  emigrants  from  various  parts  of  Europe,  so  ex- 
ceedingly added  to  the  number  of  the  poor,  that  it 
became  indispensably  necessary  to  erect  a  more 
commodious  Aims-House  in  Chamber-street ; 
while,  at  the  same  time,  the  old  site  left  a  favour- 
able space  for  erecting  the  present  City- Hall. 
This  house  of  poor  is  of  brick,  260  feet  by  44; 
with  two  projections  in  front,  of  15  by  SO.  Pos- 
session of  this  establishment  was  taken  in  1795. 

From  the  more  opulent  and  benevolent  part 
of  the  community,  about  this  period,  a  spirit  of 
philanthropy  began  still  more  eminently  to  ap- 
pear in  favour  of  the  needy  and  the  destitute.  For 
these  purposes,  various  societies  have  been  suc- 
cessively established — Here  are  public  charity 
schools  for  indigent  children — The  widow  with 
small  children  are  fostered  by  a  society  of  females — 
By  another,  clothing  is  provided  for  the  naked — 
By  a  provident  society,  the  imprisoned  debtor, 
with  other  necessitous  persons,  are  supplied  with 
refreshments — Aged  widows,  who  once  saw  bet- 
ter days,  are  materially  aided  with  necessary 
comforts  to  soften  their  pangs  while  closing  the 


24  Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Pooi . 


period  of  life — Here,  too,  as  one  of  the  brightest 
ornaments  of  our  city,  exists  an  asylum  for  helpless 
orphans,  where  they  are  tenderly  fostered,  and 
receive  such  education  and  religious  precepts  as 
promise  the  greatest  advantage  to  the  infants  and 
to  the  general  community.  While  these  several 
acts  of  benevolence  are  honourable  to  human  na- 
ture and  to  our  citizens,  we  must  confess  that 
they  are  produced  as  the  happy  fruit  of  the  Gos- 
pel of  Jesus  Christ,  which  we  so  plentifully  en- 
joy- 

For  wise  purposes,  combining  a  greater  num- 
ber of  objects,  the  Corporation  of  our  City  have 
erected  this  establishment  at  Bellevue — the  Cha- 
pel of  which  we  this  day  open  for  divine  wor- 
ship.* The  first  stone  of  this  building  was  laid 
August  1,  1811,  by  the  Honourable  De  Witt  Clin- 
ton, Mayor  of  the  City.  The  premises,  at  present, 
occupy  about  seventeen  acres  of  ground.  The 
building  itself  is  320  feet  by  50 ;  with  two  wings, 
100  by  50  feet.  Two  hospitals  are  in  the  rear, 
75  by  25  feet,  three  stories  high.  A  penitentiary 
is  also  erected  for  the  confinement  of  those  who 
have  committed  petit  larceny:  likewise  a  spa- 
cious work-shop,  200  feet  by  25.  These  extensive 

*  The  Chapel  is  60  by  45,  and  30  feet  in  height,  with  three  spa- 
oigiis  g-arkries;  tSe  whole  finished  with  propriety  and  neatness. 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor.  25 

buildings,  no  doubt,  will  accommodate  various 
classes  of  the  poor  and  unfortunate,  to  the  ad- 
vantage of  society.  To  these  will  be  added  se- 
parate schools  for  the  male  and  female  children 
to  receive  plain  education  and  religious  instruction ; 
in  hope,  by  the  benediction  of  God,  that  they 
may  become  useful  citizens. 

About  four  years  ago  I  had  the  pleasure  of  pre- 
senting to  the  Honourable  the  Corporation,  a  plan 
for  establishing  an  asylum  for  vagrant  youth.  Many 
of  this  description,  for  a  great  length  of  time,  ap- 
parently without  parents  or  friends  to  foster  their 
tender  years,  have  infested  our  streets,  markets,  and 
wharves;  too  frequently  committing  depredations 
on  the  public,  and  viciously  destroying  them- 
selves. And,  it  is  a  fact,  for  the  want  of  such  an 
asylum,  there  are  now  so  many  criminal  children 
consigned  to  the  dreadful  walls  of  our  State  Prison. 
It  would,  indeed,  be  a  luxury  to  my  heart  to  live 
and  see  an  asylum  of  this  description  combined 
with  this  Institution,  in  which  such  young  unfor- 
tunates might  be  rescued  from  vice,  inured  to 
habits  of  industry,  and  receive  such  a  portion  of 
education  as  may  render  them  useful  to  the  public. 

Collect  what  I  have  now  delivered  from  the 
Old  and  the  New  Testaments,  and  the  various 

4 


-G  Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor. 


interpositions  of  Divine  Providence  in  after  ages 
in  favour  of  the  afflicted,  and  you  must  be  per- 
suaded that  God  hath  been  faithful  to  his  promise 
in  the  text — The  needy  have  not  been  for- 
gotten— the  expectation  of  the  poor  has 
not  perished.  And,  we  are  further  persuaded 
that  the  Lord  will,  in  every  future  period  of  time, 
have  an  ear  to  the  voice  of  his  distressed,  and 
produce  a  benevolent  hand  to  relieve  their  accu- 
mulated sorrows. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Corporation, 

Accept  my  congratulations  on  this  public  occa- 
sion. God  has  spared  your  lives,  thus  far,  to  ac- 
complish your  designs  in  erecting  this  house  for 
the  benefit  of  the  poor  and  needy.  An  Institution 
this,  which,  from  its  edifice,  the  arrangement  of  its 
various  apartments,  and  the  different  purposes  for 
which  they  are  designed,  perhaps,  is  the  most 
noble  of  any  other  of  the  kind  existing  in  the 
world!  May  you,  Gentlemen,  and  your  succes- 
sors in  office,  be  found  affectionately  faithful  in 
the  discharge  of  your  respective  benevolent  and 
arduous  duties  in  favour  of  the  poor,  and  the  ge- 
neral community.  For  your  encouragement  re- 
member that,  in  the  forty-first  Psalm,  you  are  as- 
sured that,  Blessed  is  he  that  considereth  the  poor  : 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor.  27 

the  Lord  will  deliver  him  in  time  of  trouble.  The 
Lord  will  preserve  him,  and  keep  him  alive;  and  he 
shall  be  blessed  upon  the  earth :  and  thou  wilt  not 
deliver  him  unto  the  will  of  his  enemies.  The  Lord 
will  strengthen  him  upon  the  bed  of  languishing: 
thou  wilt  make  all  his  bed  in  his  sickness.  Strong 
incitement  this  to  every  benevolent  exertion  in 
favour  of  the  poor  and  afflicted !  Permit  me  to- 
express  my  ardent  wish,  that  in  the  last  and  great 
day  you  may  hear  the  voice  of  your  Judge  and 
Saviour  saying  unto  you,  In  as  much  as  ye  have 
done  it  unto  the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have 
done  it  unto  me. 

The  Young  Persons,  who  by  their  parents,  01 
their  friends,  have  been  indulged  to  attended  the 
service  of  this  day,  will  bear  in  remembrance  that 
there  are  two  reasons  why  they  are  introduced. 
One  is,  to  teach  you  sentiments  of  benevolence 
to  the  poor,  the  practice  of  which  is  so  highly 
commendable  in  youth.  Those  who  have  so 
warmly  interested  themselves  in  raising  this  build- 
ing, may  soon  lay  down  upon  the  bed  of  death. 
It  is,  therefore,  our  anxious  solicitude  that  you 
may  arise  to  fill  our  vacant  stations,  and  be  more 
abundantly  useful  in  the  interests  of  the  public 
The  other  intention  for  your  being  introduced,  is, 
that  you  may  be  a  sort  of  living  Record  of  the 


28  Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor. 


present  solemnities.  If  God  should  spare  your 
lives  to  a  distant  period,  you  may  bear  in  remem- 
brance that  you  were  witnesses  of  the  actual  com- 
mencement of  this  benevolent  Asylum  for  the  poor, 
and  thus,  communicate  the  information  to  poste- 
rity. It  would,  indeed,  be  gratifying  and  useful 
to  young  persons  if  they  were  in  the  habit  of 
keeping  a  private  register  of  their  attendance 
on  all  such  public  occasions;  and  parents  should 
prompt  them  to  this  necessary  duty:  for  it  has 
been  at  no  small  labour  that  I  have  searched 
the  ancient  public  records  of  our  city,  and  con- 
versed with  the  most  aged  of  our  inhabitants,  to 
attain  my  short  history  of  the  poor  to  the  present 
period.  We,  therefore,  sincerely  hope  that  you 
will  receive  this,  our  affectionate  advice,  to  take 
a  deep  interest  in  whatever  may  concern  the  ge- 
neral welfare  of  this  city.  Above  all,  it  is  our 
fervent  prayer  that  you,  and  our  rising  generation, 
may  possess  the  fear  and  love  of  the  Lord  our 
God.  For,  if  ye  obey  and  serve  him,  you  shall 
spend  your  days  in  prosperity,  and  "your  years  in 
pleasure.    Job  xxxvi.  1 1 . 

The  Poor,  who  inhabit  this  house,  will  duly 
estimate  the  Providence  of  God  which  hath  pro- 
vided for  them  a  retreat  from  their  misfortunes, 
and  the  infirmities  of  age.    Your  necessities  will 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor. 


29 


not  only  be  supplied  by  the  hand  of  benevolence, 
according  to  your  circumstances;  but  this  com- 
modious Chapel  is  erected  for  the  purpose  of  your 
receiving  instruction  from  the  ministry  of  the 
Gospel,  though  of  different  religious  denomina- 
tions. And  it  shall  be  my  prayer,  whoever  may 
conduct  the  worship  of  God  in  this  place,  whe- 
ther stated  or  occasional,  that  the  truth,  as  it  is  in 
Jesus,  may  be  accompanied  with  the  influence  of 
the  Divine  Spirit,  for  the  conversion  of  sinners, 
and  the  refreshment  of  the  afflicted  children  of 
my  God!  Some  of  you,  I  am  persuaded,  in- 
dulge extreme  anxiety  on  your  removal  so  far 
from  the  city,  lest  your  friends  should  be  unable 
to  pay  you  their  usual  attention.  This,  how- 
ever, will  serve  to  prove  to  you  the  sincerity  of 
their  attachment.  But,  forget  not  that  there  is  a 
friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother ;  a  Saviour, 
whose  indulgent  hand  can  wipe  away  your  tears, 
and  supply  all  your  necessities — The  aged  and 
the  infirm  among  you,  may  soon  be  removed  by 
death,  the  messenger  of  mortality.  Though  ye 
,be  poor  in  this  world,  learn  in  ivhatsoever  state  you 
are,  therewith  to  be  content.  If  God  shall  make 
you  rich  in  faith,  and  his  heirs  of  that  kingdom  of 
light  and  bliss  beyond  the  vale  of  death,  you 
may  then  cheerfully  anticipate  the  happy  period 
when  the  days  of  your  mourning  and  your  tears 
shall  return  no  more  !  Amen. 


AS 

HYMN 

EXPRESSIVE  OF  GRATITUDE,  FROM  THE  HOUSK  OF  THE  POOR,  TO  THEIR 
GENEROUS  BENEFACTORS. 

"  Father  of  mercies,  hear  our  prayers 

For  those  who  do  us  good ; 
Whose  love  for  us  a  place  prepares, 

And  kindly  gives  us  food. 

Each  hand  and  heart  that  lends  us  aid, 
Thou  didst  inspire  and  guide  ; 

Nor  is  their  bounty  unrepaid, 
Who  for  the  poor  provide. 

Thou  still  shalt  be  our  grateful  theme ; 

Thy  praise  we'll  ever  sing ; 
Our  friends  the  kind  refreshing  stream, 

But  thou  the  unfailing  spring. 

For  those  whose  goodness  founded  this, 

A  better  house  prepare  ; 
Receive  them  to  thy  heavenly  bliss, 

And  may  we  meet  them  there ! 


Divine  Benevolence  to  the  Poor. 

May  all  the  pleasing  pains  they  share 
Be  crown'd  with  wish'd  success ; 

The  present  age  applaud  their  care, 
And  future  ages  bless! 

So  shall  the  helpless,  who  remain 

Exposed  as  we  before, 
Increasing  still  our  humble  strain. 

With  louder  songs  adore." 


jhe  end. 


Xt>  'O    ft  0 


AVERY 


